Portsmouth were one of the most active teams during the open transfer season, but look to have gained nothing. They have, off the top of my head, 5 or 6 strikers on the squad even after selling Yakubu for buku (sp?) bucks. But with Tresor Lomana Lua Lua* (Lua2) injured, Pompey were in disarray. They set out for their game against (my god... who did they even play? Was it that unmemorable. Then why am I writing about it? Oh yeah, Laurent Robert is on the Manager's squad. I guess I'll have to look it up...) Bolton (right, Bolton) in some variety of a 4-5-1. Fine as far as it goes, but they had 3 strongly left-footed players in Robert, Vignal, and Taylor; 2 holding midfielders in Hughes and Diao; and then way on the right (you can see him if you squint) was Gary O'Neill, who had to come to the left side of the field to ever see the ball; and way up there in attack (wave and maybe he'll see you) was Dario Silva, who barely ever saw the ball.As regular readers know, the Manager thinks Bolton is always a tough side to play against, but Pompey made it much to easy for them. Bolton just needed to close down 1/2 of 1/3 (that's the middle left for those not paying attention) of the field to shut down Portsmouth. Lua2 can't come back soon enough for them (or for the Manager) as it is his pace and trickery that gets Robert the dead-ball chances that they thrive on.
Pompey's next game is at resurgent Newcastle. Kudos to all the managers who stuck with Owen despite his 1pt debut. Since then it's 2 goals in 2 games. And Newcastle is getting some of their better midfielders back from injury. I'd say Owen a sure pick for the weekend, and probably for a long time this season.
Speaking of 2 game streaks, how much do you read into Darren Bent's lack of production? Perhaps a 1.5pt game is acceptable against Chelsea. But against West Brom? For those, like the Manager, who have him at his initial $6 and change we have some decisions to make. Is it worth keeping through this slump? Is it a temporary slump? Or were his early season heroics the abberation?
One Charlton player who is showing his form to be no fluke is Danny Murphy. A 2-goal blitz this week and his average pts per game is in Henry (well maybe not quite) and Lampard (who had his own brace) territory. Another 2 goals for Morten Gamst Pedersen (MGP) too.
Dean Whitehead, last seen as a good buy in last week's Manager, has to be a sell after the weekend. Though Sunderland finally get the win, they did so with Julio Arca, a former Manager favorite back when he was a winger listed by Yahoo! as a defender, taking their free-kicks. Where does that leave Whitehead? Not good value for money.
The Manager doesn't normally talk formations, but this, like the NFL, is a copycat league. And the Manager's counterpart, Mr. Thurman, went 3-5-2 this weekend to no ill effect. With players like MGP, Murphy, and Pennant, etc., averaging above 10 pts a game and slamming home the goals; and with no forwards making any great impression for too long a time; maybe 3-5-2 is a good option right now? What do you think?
The Manager
* as a member of the All-Name Team © All-Stars he deserves to have his name spelled out in full
I think you should go back to the 3-4-3 so I can catch up to you...I hear your boy LuaLua is available cheap if you can promise Malaria medication as part of the deal.
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